Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Temple, Kyoto 2016

Arashiyama is beautiful district of Kyoto that part modern city and part Japanese Western movie. The main sites there besides the district itself, is the Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple, and the amazingly beautiful Sagano Bamboo Grove.

We went to the Bamboo Grove first because we were excited to see it. Not overrated at all! I want to live in a bamboo grove- so peaceful and beautiful. The way the light filters through different parts of the grove gives each part a different color and look throughout the day.

Kevin and I in the Bamboo Grove

It's a winding trail through a huge bamboo grove

A bright and open part of the grove with no trail

Inside the grove is the Nonomiya-jinja Shinto Shrine, where Imperial Princesses purified themselves here for three years before serving at the Ise Shrine.

Kevin entering the Nonomiya-jinja Shrine

Inside the Nonomiya-jinja Shrine

Inside the Nonomiya-jinja Shrine

Good luck tokens

The adjoining Tenryu-ji Zen Temple and Garden is amazing. We even stopped to meditate there. My pictures really don't do it justice at all. This was one of my favorite temples, and obviously we saw a lot!

Kevin at the Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple

The Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple

The Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple and gardens

The Tenryu-ji Buddhist Temple garden

Before we left we walked around the town some more and got something to eat. Specifically, we got octopus balls. Technically you're supposed to have these in Osaka, but the little doughy Kyoto ones were my favorite.

 

Arashiyama

Arashiyama

Octopus Balls- mostly fried dough with a little octopus in it

Yum yum yum.

Green tea ice cream! Perfect day!